(no subject)
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?: just like in 2010, mostly "nerdy professional things." i wrote most of a young adult novel, too. i discovered the magic of massages and attended a quinceanera. i had a student teacher for a semester. i, along with 300 seventh graders, paraded unknowingly right past a baby rattlesnake and didn't get bitten. AND i started a pinterest board, and i'm not ashamed.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?: the practical ones i set, the ones about cooking and exercise and getting ready for grad school--no. but i did get better about choosing relationships more wisely. and i think i'm taking better emotional care of myself. hopefully that will lead to the fulfillment of this year's resolutions, which were the broken ones from last year...
a) take the GRE.
b) exercise somehow.
c) cook.
d) finally pay off my credit card debt... got closer this year, for sure.
3. Did someone close to you give birth?: yes, mollie was born. my best friend delivered her own baby in a bathtub. it wasn't planned that way, but she earns lots of superhero points for that. lots of friends who are pregnant; 2012 will be a year full of babies.
4. Did anyone close to you die?: a student was murdered, and two former coworkers from my old school died. in early 2011, a good friend's husband died of a really quick illness, and that was pretty awful.
5. What countries did you visit?: just this one.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?: some emotional stability and peace of mind. i'd like to feel healthy.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?:
a) the NCTE conference & thanksgiving in chicago
b) my dad's visit
c) the night my student was murdered
d) the day my dad told me via email that he'd remarried
e) going to maryland--my presentation with amy, visiting with sam & rachael
f) the day my friend's husband died
g) the day a horribly vile teacher taught me to stay away from certain people by nearly getting my friend fired... GOSSIP IS DUMB
h) the release of our heinemann dvd
i) the last days, all three of them, of three pastors at church (carrie, don, and seth)
j) the day i got a smartphone
k) meeting my mom & jenni at the lavender festival
l) the day my best friend moved to qatar
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?: my professional life is always the area of biggest achievement. this year i'm on a dvd for flippin' heinemann! my career is easy to control because i have no personal life. i also went back to counseling and started caring more about my personal life.
9. What was your biggest failure?: taking care of myself well... my emotional health, my relational health. meeting worthy men.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?: i got pretty sick in january, thanks to allergies. cedar came earlier this year, so i'm actually kind of sick now. not too long after january 2011's illness, i got a HORRIBLE stomach flu... i mean, i was throwing up while on the phone with work. and then somehow i injured my foot in the spring--walked with a limp for about a month. my anxiety disorder has convinced me that i'm dying everyday, but aren't we all.
11. What was the best thing you bought?: a food processor for my brother--he loves that thing. and i paid my way for NCTE this year, and it was marvelous--a big celebration of all important professional things. i bought an elliptical and an external hard drive; those fall under smart things, i guess.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?: my friends are pretty spectacular. i didn't have awesome friends for awhile, but now i do--both rekindled friendships and brand new ones.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?: my parents', congress
14. Where did most of your money go?: rent, car payments, and paying off debt... same as always
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?: my book, my chicago and maryland trips in the fall, numerous book releases, a boy who eventually stood me up
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?: that terrible shuffling song, anything by amy winehouse, adele's "rolling in the deep," florence & the machine's "the dog days are over," coldplay's "paradise," bruno mars' "it will rain," raphael saadiq's "movin' down the line," foster the people's "pumped up kicks"
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? about the same
ii. thinner or fatter? probably fatter, but wearing the same pants!
iii. richer or poorer? the same... with cuts in education and rising expenses, probably a bit poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?: traveling, moving forward somehow
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?: stagnating
20. How will you be spending Christmas?: my mom brought her boyfriend to christmas. jay was here, and veronica visited again. she brought cookies. i was watching my friend's chinchilla over the break, so i visited with him. we opened presents late in the day and hung out.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?: nope
23. Any one-night stands?: zero
24. What was your favorite TV program?: parenthood, mad men, and (don't judge) secret circle. i'm really into 30 rock right now, and i watch the office as i'm falling asleep every night.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?: no, there's more people i love, actually.
26. What was the best book you read?: it's hard to say... the believers has lingered in my head, as has let the great world spin and special topics in calamity physics. also, i recommend the knife of never letting go like mad. and divergent and amy & roger's epic detour and lola and the boy next door and zeitoun...
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?: i really like foster the people, i can't help it. i fell in love with raphael saadiq, as well. and i developed a stronger appreciation for m. ward. and beach house is pretty amazing...
28. What did you want and get?: some strength
29. What did you want and not get?: energy, movement, the wellness it requires to be whole... i don't know what i want, really. i want to feel fulfilled, and i don't.
30. Favorite film of this year?: i didn't see a ton of them. jay and i LOVED hugo. it was gorgeous. i also really liked tree of life.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?: i turned 31, and i spent the day comforting grieving students. it was a terrible day for a birthday, but some wonderful people still made me feel special. in the evening i had pizza and wandered south congress with some friends and tried to appreciate life in honor of the student who died.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?: an ally... same as last year. someone who likes board games as much as kissing, please.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?: jeans and hoodies, always. i discovered i can blowdry my hair straight, and it looks cool when i do.
34. What kept you sane?: daydreaming & coffee, counseling
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?: same as last year, ryan gosling.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?: education and racism/poverty, every year; osama bin laden's death, the london riots
37. Who do you miss?: my dad, my friends in houston, my dog--same as last year. i also miss my cats, the three who now live with jay in chicago. and i miss jay a lot.
38. Who was the best new person you met?: sam's girlfriend rachael is lovely, and i met some new people at church. i've deepened a friendship with carrie, and i got to meet sara zarr--amazing!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011: be honest with myself. be HONEST, even when the feelings aren't virtuous and "good."